DetarvaAcademy
IDEN
K-SFNStructures for Architects

Foundations and Soil

Reading soil, knowing foundations and understanding groundwater

Start chapter 1 freeEnrol in this course
M.A.T. (MUKA AIR TANAH)250300-3.450FFL BASEMENTMEMBRAN HDPE 1.2MM PRE-APPLIEDMENERUS DINDING–BAWAH RAFTPAPAN PELINDUNG 3MMDRAINAGE CELL 20MM+ GEOTEKSTILTANAH URUG DIPADATKANLAPIS 200, 95% PROCTORPIPA HDPE BERLUBANG Ø110+ KERIKIL Ø20–40 + GEOTEKSTILLANTAI KERJA K-100 T.50PASIR URUG DIPADATKAN T.100DINDING BASEMENT T.250BETON K-350 KEDAP AIRACIAN + CAT EPOXYWATERSTOP PVC 150DI SIAR COR RAFT–DINDINGSCREED T.50 + EPOXY 3MMRAFT BETON T.300TULANGAN LIHAT GAMBAR STR.ILUSTRASI CONTOHBUKAN UNTUK KONSTRUKSI1K-SFNFOUNDATIONS AND SOILSKALA 1:10
Level
Advanced
Lessons
18
Time
1h 55m
Rating
4.7
Learners
6.2K
Updated
Jul 2026

After this course

What you'll be able to do yourself.

Soil is the one material you can't choose, yet every load ends up there. This course teaches how to read a soil report, know shallow foundations and piles, and understand basements below groundwater. Foundation design stays with the geotechnical and structural engineers.

  1. 1Read what matters to an architect in a soil investigation report.
  2. 2Tell shallow foundations, friction piles and end bearing piles apart.
  3. 3Explain pile set records, pile caps and pile tests.
  4. 4Explain uplift and water pressure on a basement.
  5. 5Anticipate how foundations affect plans, schedules and neighbours.

Good for

  • Junior architects starting on multi-storey buildings.
  • Site inspectors who oversee below-ground work.
  • Drafters who draw foundation and basement plans.

Best taken after

Full syllabus

Chapter by chapter, nothing hidden.

18 lessons, 1h 55m in total. Chapter 1 is open to everyone.

Chapter 1Reading soilFreeHow soil behaves, how it is tested, and what to look for in the report.6 lessons / 37 min
  1. The soil you can't choose5 min
  2. The language of soil4 min
  3. Reading the soil report5 min
  4. Pressure on soil, as an illustration7 min
  5. The former swamp plot6 min
  6. Chapter 1 test10 min
Chapter 2Shallow foundations and pilesFrom stone strips and pads to piles that never reach hard ground.6 lessons / 38 min
  1. Shallow foundations5 min
  2. Piles that never reach hard ground5 min
  3. Piles, caps and testing5 min
  4. Pile counts, as an illustration7 min
  5. The neighbour and the vibration6 min
  6. Chapter 2 test10 min
Chapter 3Basements and groundwaterWater pressure, uplift and what happens during excavation.6 lessons / 40 min
  1. Groundwater pushes from every side5 min
  2. Build up the basement wall6 min
  3. Find the basement faults6 min
  4. Water pressure and uplift7 min
  5. The pump someone wants to turn off6 min
  6. Chapter 3 test10 min

Lesson kinds

  • Concept
  • Glossary
  • Calculate
  • Site case
  • Chapter test
  • Layer Stack
  • Spot the Fault

Get a feel for it

You practise, you don't just watch.

Try it: Slide the ParameterIllustration, not for construction
M.A.T. (MUKA AIR TANAH)250300-3.450FFL BASEMENTMEMBRAN HDPE 1.2MM PRE-APPLIEDMENERUS DINDING–BAWAH RAFTPAPAN PELINDUNG 3MMDRAINAGE CELL 20MM+ GEOTEKSTILTANAH URUG DIPADATKANLAPIS 200, 95% PROCTORPIPA HDPE BERLUBANG Ø110+ KERIKIL Ø20–40 + GEOTEKSTILLANTAI KERJA K-100 T.50PASIR URUG DIPADATKAN T.100DINDING BASEMENT T.250BETON K-350 KEDAP AIRACIAN + CAT EPOXYWATERSTOP PVC 150DI SIAR COR RAFT–DINDINGSCREED T.50 + EPOXY 3MMRAFT BETON T.300TULANGAN LIHAT GAMBAR STR.

Slide the value. The drawing follows, just like in the lessons.

Water pressure at the base of the wall is about 6 kPa. The higher the water table, the harder it pushes on the joints.

Illustration, not for construction

Your creator

Taught by someone who still does the work.

Your creator

Galih Sastrawinata

Structural engineer

A practitioner who teaches from their everyday work.

Courses
4
Learners
57.4K

Other courses

About becoming a creator

Learner reviews

From people who took it.

4.7out of 5

487 reviews

  • 572%
  • 420%
  • 36%
  • 21%
  • 11%

  • Fikri Hidayat

    Drafter, 2 years in a studio

    As an architect I can now talk to the engineer without just nodding along.

  • Putri Ayuningtyas

    Architecture graduate

    Not many formulas, but enough to know why I can't just cut a hole through that beam.

  • Ardi Nugraha

    Site engineer

    The reinforcement chapter is very clear. I can now read rebar drawings on site.

Questions that come up

About this course.

All questions

01

What can I try for free?

All of chapter 1, "Reading soil": 6 lessons, about 37 min. No card needed. If it isn't for you, stop there.

02

What should I know before starting?

It helps to have finished Structures for Architects first. It isn't locked, but the chapters assume you know that material.

03

Subscribe or buy this course?

Pro is Rp149.000 a month and opens every course, track, exam and certificate. Buying this course is Rp379.000 once and it stays yours. If you plan to take more than two courses, Pro usually comes out cheaper.

04

Do I get a certificate?

Certificates come from track exams, not single courses. This course counts toward Structures for Architects, Site Supervisor. The exam runs 60 minutes and you pass at 75 percent.

05

Can I use these drawings on a project?

No. Every drawing in the course is an illustration for learning, not for construction. Use them to understand the logic, then follow your firm's standard and your engineer's drawings.

Part of

This course counts toward these tracks.

Where next

Courses people often take next.

All courses
  • suaFlagship

    Structures for Architects / Beginner

    Structures for Architects

    Enough structure to read it, discuss it and draw it right

    Galih Sastrawinata
    Lessons
    25
    Time
    2h 39m
    Rating
    4.8
    Learners
    31.5K
  • sbt

    Structures for Architects / Intermediate

    Reinforced Concrete: Reading the Rebar

    From D19 notation to checking steel before the pour

    Galih Sastrawinata
    Lessons
    18
    Time
    1h 54m
    Rating
    4.7
    Learners
    11.2K
  • sbj

    Structures for Architects / Intermediate

    Steel and Connections

    Reading sections, bolts, welds and roof frames

    Galih Sastrawinata
    Lessons
    17
    Time
    1h 49m
    Rating
    4.7
    Learners
    8.5K
K-SFNStart with chapter 1

Foundations and Soil free.

No card needed. If it suits you, go on with Pro or buy this course.

Start chapter 1 freeSee plans, Rp149.000